Medical Assisting
15 courses · San Diego Mesa College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Classes: Fall 2026 · Spring 2027
MEDA 55 Fundamentals Human Anatomy and Physiology
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 48 - 54 hours lecture
This course examines the structures of the human body and the functions of the major body systems. Topics include cell structure and physiology, tissue classification and function, and general body organization. This course is designed for medical assisting majors and anyone interested in entering a health care career.
MEDA 56 Administrative Medical Assisting I
- Units
- 1.5
- Hours
- 16 - 18 hours lecture/24-27 hours lab
- Prerequisite
- MEDA 110 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent
This course is designed to prepare Allied Health students to work in physicians' offices, clinics, hospitals, and other medical areas. The course covers administrative and clerical functions of a medical office assistant including patient reception, scheduling appointments, telephone procedures, medical records management, written communications, patient records, office management, professional activities, and personal conduct. This course is designed for students enrolled in the Medical Assisting program or Patient Care Coordinator certificate.
MEDA 64 Medical Ethics and Legal Issues for the Allied Health Professional
- Units
- 1
- Hours
- 16 - 18 hours lecture
This course presents future Allied Health professionals with an overview of ethical and legal practices related to the medical field. Guidelines pertaining to the laws, policies and regulations associated with medical issues and clinical practice within the various Allied Health professions, as well as those established by their associated accrediting/licensing agencies, are described and discussed. The impact of the cultural, social, ethical differences and the expectations from the patient's perspective are analyzed and assessed.
MEDA 68 Human Behavior for Allied Health Students
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 48 - 54 hours lecture
This course introduces students in the allied health professions to the basic principles of psychology as they relate to human behavior and personality development from birth to old age. Emphasis is placed on cultural, social, hereditary and environmental influences on human behavior and personality development, including behavior associated with death, dying and grieving. Topics include an exploration of varied cultural beliefs, values and practices regarding health and illness, concepts of mental wellness and mental disorders, and methods of treatment and therapy used in the rehabilitation and recovery of patients with mental illnesses.
MEDA 76 Principles of Infection Control and Sterile Technique
- Units
- 1.5
- Hours
- 16 - 18 hours lecture/24-27 hours lab
This course provides an overview and application of current Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) policies and regulations and Standard Precautions related to infection control in the clinical setting. This course is designed to meet OSHA and blood-borne pathogen control for medical assisting and other allied health students who have potential exposure to infectious material such as blood, urine and other body fluids. The evolution of asepsis and infection control is presented as a basis for understanding the need for protection in health care and service environments. The application and use of personal protective equipment (PPE), medical and surgical aseptic handwashing techniques, disposal of biohazard material and other related topics is explored and practiced. This course also covers the differences between disinfection and sterilization. Students sterilize instruments, materials and equipment using a variety of methods and set-ups to maintain and work in a sterile field.
MEDA 78 Principles of Patient Care
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 16 - 18 hours lecture/48-54 hours lab
- Prerequisite
- MEDA 55 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent or BIOL 160 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent and MEDA 110 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent
This course provides Medical Assisting students with the fundamentals of patient care in the clinical setting. Students practice the communication skills needed to obtain patient information, as well as instruct and educate patients. Students apply the principles of medical documentation to record information obtained from patient interviews, measuring vital signs, procedures performed or other pertinent patient information as an entry in the patient's medical record. Correct body mechanics needed to assist, move and position patients are presented and students practice positioning patients, preparing trays, measuring a patient's vital signs and assisting with general and specialized clinical procedures performed in the medical setting and within the "Scope of Practice" for the Medical Assistant.
MEDA 82 Diagnostic Testing
- Units
- 1
- Hours
- 48-54 hours lab
- Prerequisite
- MEDA 55 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent or BIOL 160 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent and MEDA 110 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent
- Corequisite
- Completion of or concurrent enrollment in: MEDA 76 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent
This course presents the principles of diagnostic testing to students in the medical assisting program. Students are introduced to the various types of medical laboratories and methods of quality control for specimen collection, transport, and testing while they learn to screen patients for various diagnostic tests and to follow-up test results. Emphasis is placed on the application of laboratory safety practices in accordance with Standard Precautions and Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. Students use common laboratory equipment to perform Clinical Lab Improvement Act (CLIA) approved tests for medical assistants, including hematology, chemistry, immunology and microbiology tests, urinalysis, and respiratory function testing and result analysis. Topics also include the principles of radiological tests, such as X-rays, computerized axial tomography (CT) scanning and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
MEDA 84 Phlebotomy for Medical Assisting
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 24 - 27 hours lecture/24-27 hours lab
- Prerequisite
- MEDA 76 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent
This course prepares students to perform venipunctures and basic blood tests required for entry-level medical assisting positions in clinics and other health care settings. This course is designed for students completing the Medical Assisting Program.
MEDA 86 Administrative Medical Assisting II
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 24 - 27 hours lecture/24-27 hours lab
- Prerequisite
- MEDA 110 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent
This course introduces and instructs Allied Health students in the use of accounting systems for medical and dental offices (including the pegboard and computerized accounting systems) and health insurance procedures. Emphasis is placed on medical accounting terminology, ledgers, methods used in payroll accounting, preparation of account charts and correct completion of benefit and claim forms. This course also prepares students to work with insurance forms in medical offices, hospitals and other clinical settings and in the proper use of procedural and diagnostic coding utilizing the most current editions of Physicians Current Procedural Terminology and International Classification of Diseases.
MEDA 88 Electrocardiogram Application
- Units
- 0.5
- Hours
- 24-27 hours lab
- Prerequisite
- MEDA 76 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent
This course presents the Medical Assisting students with the basic principles of performing and analyzing an electrocardiogram (ECG). Students review the anatomy, physiology and electrophysiology of the heart and circulatory system as it pertains to an ECG. The basic components of an ECG and types of cardiac rhythms, both normal and abnormal, are presented. Students perform and analyze a normal 12-Lead ECG. Students also become familiar with and are able to identify the abnormal cardiac rates, rhythms and conditions that can be diagnosed utilizing an ECG.
MEDA 92 Minor Surgery
- Units
- 0.5
- Hours
- 24-27 hours lab
- Prerequisite
- MEDA 76 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent
This course introduces the Medical Assisting student to the principles of minor surgery, its history and settings. Students become familiar with a variety of common surgical procedures, instruments, materials and supplies used in aseptic and sterile procedures. Patient pre-operative and post- operative processing is also presented and practiced. Alternate surgical procedures are also discussed. Students are instructed in the Scope of Practice of the Medical Assistant as it relates to minor surgery.
MEDA 94 Medication Administration
- Units
- 0.5
- Hours
- 24-27 hours lab
- Prerequisite
- MEDA 110 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent and MEDA 76 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent
In this course the medical assisting student practices the hands-on-application of medication administration. The course presents the principles and the guidelines for reading and interpreting a medical prescription. The course content also stresses the mechanisms for calculating, measuring and administering drugs; both orally and parenterally using placebos to carry out the medical prescription. Principles of intravenous (I.V.) therapy are discussed. Students maintain medication and immunization records in accordance with the appropriate application of documentation and record preparation principles. Also covered in this course are the complications of medication administration and the immediate measures that need to be applied in each situation. Students should be aware that they perform and practice invasive procedures on each other as one of the course requirements. This course is designed for students enrolled in the Medical Assisting Program.
MEDA 97 Directed Clinical Practice
- Units
- 4.5
- Hours
- 216-243 hours other
- Prerequisite
- MEDA 110 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent and MEDA 76 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent and MEDA 78 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent and MEDA 82 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent
This course is designed to give medical assisting students hands-on, unpaid clinical experience at a medical facility. Focus is placed on the safe, legal, ethical and effective application of skills learned in prior medical assisting courses. This course also fosters the development of communication skills, interpersonal relationships and professionalism required for the healthcare field. Supervision of students is provided by the staff of the affiliating institution and coordinated by the college faculty. The course is designed for students enrolled in the Medical Assisting Program.
MEDA 110 Medical Terminology
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 48 - 54 hours lecture
This course covers basic medical terminology and the vocabulary of medical specialties. Special emphasis is on the use of prefixes and suffixes, and non-technical explanations of medical terms and descriptions of anatomy, physiology, and pathology. Students learn to utilize medical terminology as it applies to the structure of the human body, common laboratory tests, radiological and operative procedures, as well as basic pharmacology. This course is open to the general public as well as students in special programs or those who wish to review this information.
MEDA 115 Pathophysiology
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 48 - 54 hours lecture
- Prerequisite
- MEDA 55 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent or MEDA 110 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent or BIOL 160 with a Grade of "C" or better, or equivalent
The course focuses on disease processes in the human body from a systems approach. Analysis of the most common and significant diseases is included. The signs and symptoms, etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of disease are examined along with the appropriate medical terminology. This course is designed for students in allied health programs, but is also open to those who wish to broaden their medical background or review this information.